Process for producing ethyleneamines

US7696384B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Gunther Van Cauwenberge · Lokeren, BE
• Johann-Peter Melder · Schifferstadt, DE
• Holger Evers · Mannheim, DE
• Till Gerlach · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Frank Kiesslich · Dietzenbach, DE
• Ekkehard Schwab · Neustadt, DE
• Bram Willem Hoffer · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 25, 2006
• Grant date: Apr 13, 2010
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J37/18
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Processes comprising: providing a starting material comprising monoethanolamine; and reacting the starting material with ammonia in the presence of a heterogeneous transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product comprising one or more ethylene amines; wherein the catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition, which prior to treatment with hydrogen, comprises a mixture of oxygen-containing compounds of aluminum, copper, nickel and cobalt; and wherein the catalyst is present as one or more shaped catalyst particles selected from spheres, extrudates, pellets and other geometries, wherein the sphere or extrudate has a diameter of <3 mm, the pellet has a height of <3 mm, and the other geometries have an equivalent diameter L=1/a′ of <0.70 mm, where a′ is the external surface area per unit volume (mms2/mmp3), as defined bywhere Ap is the external surface area of the catalyst particle (mms2) and Vp is the volume of the catalyst particle (mmp3).